History of Central America, Volume 3, 1801-1887: The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 8Bancroft, Hubert Howe
History
History of Central America, Volume 3, 1801-1887: The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 8
Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Central America -- History
Walker arrived safely in his own country. But he was not yet satisfied
with the misery and desolation he had wrought upon a foreign and
unoffending people. He must play the vampire further; he must conquer
Nicaragua and be a great man. Taking advantage of the rupture between
this republic and Costa Rica, he prepared another expedition, with
which, eluding the vigilance of the United States authorities, he
sailed from New Orleans for San Juan del Norte. He was arrested,
however, at Punta de Castilla, December 8th, and sent back by Commodore
Paulding, commanding the American home squadron.[XVII-55] The officer's
course obtained the highest commendation and gratitude in Central
America, and particularly in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the latter
conferring upon him high honors. Loyal men who took up arms in the
country's defence were also rewarded.[XVII-56] But like a wild beast
maddened by its wounds, Walker was still bent on blood, if blood were
necessary to subjugate Central America to his will. He fitted out
a third expedition, and landing with its avant guard at Trujillo on
the 6th of August, 1860, seized the funds of the custom-house, which
were pledged to the British government for the payment of Honduras'
indebtedness to its subjects.[XVII-57] The British war vessel _Icarus_
entered the port on the 20th, and her commanding officer, Norwell
Salmon, demanded that Walker should forthwith leave the place, which
he did, fleeing to the eastern coast, where he and his men underwent
the utmost suffering in that uninhabited marshy region. A party of
Hondurans harassed them, and Walker was wounded in the face and leg.
Finally, General Mariano Álvarez arrived with a Honduran force at
Trujillo, and together with Salmon proceeded to the mouth of Rio
Tinto, arriving there on the 3d of September. Walker surrendered to the
_Icarus_, and was turned over to Álvarez, who had him tried at Trujillo
by court-martial. He was sentenced to death, and executed on the 12th
of September. Thus ended on the scaffold the career of William Walker,
filibuster, pirate, or what you will.[XVII-58]
* * * * *
The provisional government of Nicaragua on the 14th of January,
1857, organized a consultive council of five members and three
substitutes,[XVII-59] which was installed on the 20th. To that body
were referred the strictures of ministers Cardenal and Castillo, upheld
by General Martinez, the two former having resigned their portfolios
because the president had declined to transfer the seat of government
to the eastern department.[XVII-60] The council did not approve of
their course, and suggested that Martinez, under a clause in the
agreement of September 12, 1856, should summon R. Cortés and P. J.
Chamorro to fill the vacancies in the cabinet. It does not appear,
however, that Martinez took any steps in that direction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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